Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a key ally of President Trump, on Monday slammed the administration’s move to pull out of northern Syria ahead of a Turkish invasion.
“I don’t know all the details regarding President Trump’s decision in northern Syria. In process of setting up phone call with Secretary Pompeo,” the South Carolina lawmaker tweeted. “If press reports are accurate this is a disaster in the making.”
“Ensures ISIS comeback. Forces Kurds to align with Assad and Iran. Destroys Turkey’s relationship with U.S. Congress. Will be a stain on America’s honor for abandoning the Kurds.”
The White House announced late Sunday that Turkey will soon be launching a military operation in northern Syria and that U.S. troops will no longer be “in the immediate area” when it happens.
{mosads}The U.S. had more than 1,000 troops deployed in the region working closely with the Kurdish YPG, which leads the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The U.S. has valued the Kurdish group as a vital collaborator to defeat ISIS.
The YPG is a top enemy for Ankara, however, which sees it as an offshoot of the PKK, a Kurdish separatist movement based in Turkey.
Turkey has pushed for a safe zone that would remove Kurdish forces from the pocket of Syrian territory nearest to Turkey. The U.S. has instead been working on establishing a “security mechanism” with its Kurdish allies.
Sunday’s announcement took the SDF by surprise, with the group releasing a statement saying that a Turkish invasion could erase gains made against ISIS and make Syria “a permanent conflict area.”
Graham on Monday promised to try to reverse the U.S.’s departure if the plan is implemented.
“Also, if this plan goes forward will introduce Senate resolution opposing and asking for reversal of this decision,” he tweeted. “Expect it will receive strong bipartisan support.”
Graham also called into “Fox & Friends” and called the withdrawal “impulsive.”